Fraudster jailed for failing to repay money

Andrew Nowell

A fraudster is behind bars after failing to pay back thousands of pounds of ill-gotten gains from an insurance scam.

Stuart Walker, from Leigh, was jailed for seven a half a months at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court after being unable to pay back a confiscation order of £13,160.

The 33-year-old, of Leigh Road, was convicted along with three other men in July 2014 and the four were told they would face possible prison sentences if they did not pay back the money they owed from a £34k medical insurance fraud within six months.

The hearing was told Walker had only paid back £1,500 and still owes £12,700 due to interest accumulating on the amount, while the other three have all paid the money back.

Mark Broughton, a financial investigator at the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) which investigated the case, said: “This outcome sends a strong message that those looking to profit from insurance fraud will be made to pay for their crime.

“The confiscation order was given to make sure that he didn’t profit from his crime and Walker was given plenty of opportunity to come up with the money and pay back what he owed.

“However, during the past year, he has given various reasons and excuses as to why he hasn’t been able to pay the money back in full. Despite these delaying tactics, time has run out for Walker and he now faces several months behind bars.”

Walker was one of the three men who put in fraudulent medical claims which were processed by the fourth member of the group, resulting in payouts of more than £34,000, between December 2011 and April 2012.

He was jailed for 234 days at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on March 2.

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